Queer and Cozy Mysteries

Murder at theOffice A MotherDaughter Mystery ChapterOne When the callcame in from reception, Sharon growled unapologetically. Swipingthe phone from its cradle, she asked, “Rosa, what’s up?” “You’ve got avisitor!” Rosa replied with a giggle. Must be Norasurprising her with an indulgent afternoon snack from the froufroucupcake bakery downstairs. “Send her in,”Sharon said. “She knows the way.” “Aren’t youeven going to ask who it is?” Sharon sighed.“Fine. Who is it, Rosa?” Thereceptionist squealed into the phone before shouting, “It’sKate!” Sharon’s heartjust about jumped out through her mouth. Kate? Couldn’t be. Katedidn’t even return her phone calls these days. That girl wouldnever show up at the office unannounced. Unless therewas some sort of emergency. Or maybe itwas some other Kate Sharon’s mind had misplaced. A clientperhaps? Sharonasked Rosa, “Kate who?” “Kate who!?” Rosahowled. “Your daughter Kate, of course! Lady, you’ve been workingtoo hard.” Goodness, it really was Kate. Excitement andapprehension wrapped their fingers around Sharon’s heart as shesaid, “Tell her to wait. I’ll be right out.” No time tocheck her teeth for spinach or make sure her hair was relativelytame. She wouldn’t have worn such a frumpy outfit if she’d knownshe’d be seeing her daughter today. Oh well. Nothing she could doabout it now. She popped out of her boxy little office and walk-ranthrough the labyrinthine hallways. She worried that if she took toolong getting to reception her daughter might give up on her andjet. Sharon took abrief moment to compose herself before stepping through the glassdouble-doors and into the finely-appointed reception area. “There sheis!” Rosa sang, as though Sharon’s daughter were Miss America. Fat chance ofthat ever happening. Just look at the girl: blonde hair dyed pinkand twisted into dreadlocks. Sharon couldn’t help but cringeinternally. She pictured her daughter as a child: expressive eyes,sweet spirit, kind demeanor. What ever happened to that version ofKate? Trying not tolet her feelings show, Sharon wrapped her arms around her teendaughter. “Katie, honey, it’s so good to see you! Is everythingokay?” “Mom!” Kategrowled, struggling out of Sharon’s hug. “Get your hands offme.” “I’m sorry,”Sharon apologized, still clutching her daughter’s shoulder. “I’mjust so happy you’re here. It isn’t an emergency, is it?” “Noemergency.” “Your dad’sokay?” “Dad’s fine,Mom.” “You didn’thave a fight or anything?” “No,Mom. We never fight. Him andme are nothing like you andme.” Those wordswere a dagger to Sharon’s heart. Kate had always been Daddy’sLittle Girl, but ever more so since Kate had developed her currentsense of personal rebellion. It sometimes seemed she and Katecouldn’t be in the same room for more than five minutes withoutSharon nagging the girl and Kate screaming obscenities. Livingapart ripped at Sharon’s heartstrings daily, but she knew it wasfor the best. “What bringsyou downtown?” Sharon asked. “Did you want to go out for lunch? “Lunch?” Katescoffed. “It’s almost 4:30.” Sharon glancedat her watch. “So it is. Did you want to go out for a bite once I’mdone for the day? Get a coffee? See a movie?” Kate rolledher eyes. “You mean you don’t have plans with Nora?” “Not tonight,”Sharon said matter-of-factly. “Nora has her sign language class onThursdays.” “Okay, wellhere’s the thing…” Kate unzipped her backpack, which she’d doodledunrepentantly upon with permanent marker—and which was now sittingon one of reception’s white leather chairs. Right on cuethe elevator dinged and who should emerge but the big boss Min andher favourite client Gwilym: a handsome younger man dressed in darkjeans and a neat jacket. He smelled like money and looked like amodel. Even Kate’s jaw dropped as he entered the reception areanext to Min, whose outfit was equally chic: a gold-toned sleevelesssilk blouse with ruffles down the front, red skirt cut to the kneebut so fitted it left little to the imagination. Her black hair wasdone up in a neat bun, and a circular red pendant hung on a chunkychain around her neck. It reminded Sharon of the Japanese flag.Perhaps Min wore it to highlight her Japanese heritage. “Anymessages?” Min asked Rosa. As Rosa handedthe boss a stack of message slips, Min’s gaze shifted across thereception area. Staring at Kate’s ripped black jeans and rattyhoodie, she asked, “Who have we here?” “Min,” Sharonsaid. “You remember my little girl Kate.” “Not so littleanymore, I see.” Sharon forceda laugh. “No, she’s grown into a young woman in her own right.” “How old areyou now?” Min asked. “Almostseventeen,” Kate said. “Almostseventeen?” Sharon chuckled. “Honey, you just turned sixteen threemonths ago.” Kate scowledat her mother, then turned her gaze to Min. “I like your necklace.Where’d you get it?” Min’s eyeswidened as she fingered the red circle against her chest. “Oh,this? It was a gift. A gift from my husband.” “He’s got goodtaste,” said Kate. Gwilym’s browfurrowed. His lips pursed noticeably as he glanced in Min’sdirection. Min noticedthe client’s oppressive stare and stopped touching the pendant. Shefolded her hands behind her back, which was a rare pose for her.Usually it was hands on hips or crossed angrily over her chest. “I gather yourvisit to your mother’s workplace was unplanned,” Min said crisply.“Otherwise I imagine you’d have worn clothing more suitable for abusiness office.” Kate’s facefell. Perhaps she’d understand now why Sharon complained so muchabout the boss. Even around the office, nobody seemed to realizehow much work the boss heaved on Sharon’s head. No, that’s notquite true. Min’s assistant Hildred knew all too well how difficultthe boss could be. Same went for Olga, the office cleaning woman.Olga had more than once been the target of Min’s wrath, and alwaysfor silly things like failing to leave straight vacuum patterns onthe office carpeting. Poor Olga. Poor Hildred! Poor everybody whoanswered to Min the Terrible. And now Katewas seeing that dreadful side of Min. Pulling acolourful poster from her backpack, Kate said, “My band’s got a gigcoming up. I’m here to make copies of the poster so we can put themup all over the city. We get paid a percentage of what they take inat the door, so we really need to get people out.” “You didn’tinvite me to this gig,” Sharon said. “Where is it? What time?” Kate rolledher eyes. “Don’t worry about it, Mom. You don’t want to come.” “My baby onstage? Of course I do!” “Mom, I reallydon’t think it’s your kind of music.” “That’s notimportant, honey. I want to support you. I’ll be there for sure,and I’ll bring Nora.” Mininterrupted their mother-daughter discussion with a harshinterjection. “I’m sure your mother informed you that we do notallow office equipment to be used for personal gain.” Kate’s eyeswidened. “Oh. Sorry. My dad said it would be okay.” “Does yourfather work here?” Min asked haughtily. “No.” “But I do,”Min went on. “And, furthermore, I am the boss. What I say goes. Isthat understood?” Kate’s eyesfilled with tears, but that old routine didn’t work on Min. “I’msorry. I didn’t realize.” “I’m surprisedyour mother would have allowed such an infraction.” “I wouldn’thave!” Sharon jumped in, feeling like a bit of a traitor forthrowing her daughter under the bus. “I’m only hearing about thisnow, Min. I would have told her to make the copies at home.” “We don’t havea colour printer,” Kate mumbled. “Well, then,at a copy shop. Whatever.” “Colour copiescost money,” Kate said. Min replied,“Exactly.” Surprisingly,Gwilym jumped in to say, “Have a heart, Min. You were youngonce.” Min smirkedand said, “Lies.” Gwilym pulledout his wallet and fished for cash. “How much will it cost to havethem done at that place across the street? Fifty dollars? Sixty?”He handed three bills to Kate. “Here, take sixty.” “Oh, Icouldn’t possibly accept money from a stranger,” Kate said as sheplucked the bills from Gwilym’s hand. “You’re too kind,really.” Sharon felt inawe of her daughter’s artful appropriation of the client’smoney. “It’s mypleasure,” Gwilym said, tilting his head to get a look at theposter. “Next Saturday at the Roxie? Maybe I’ll check it out.” “You should!”Kate said excitedly. “I mean, if you’re into lesbian feministpunk.” Gwilymsmirked. “Who isn’t?” Kate glared ather mother. “A lot of people.” Min pushed herclient toward the glass double-doors. “Enough fraternizing, Gwilym.Let’s go to my office and get those papers signed.” When they weregone, Kate said, “Wow! That guy looks like a movie star.” “I didn’trealize you could tell a handsome man from a homely one,” Sharonclucked. “I have eyes,don’t I?” When the girlstarted shoving her band poster back in her bag, Sharon asked, “Whyare you putting that away? You should get down to the copy placebefore they close. I’ll come with you if you’re nervous aboutcrossing the street.” “I’m not akid, Mom! I got here on my own, didn’t I?” Kate glanced at Rosa,renowned office gossip, who seemed to be taking notes. “First canyou show me your new office? I haven’t been here since you workedin a cubicle.” Sharon’s heartswelled, knowing that her daughter cared about her day to day life.“Sure, of course. Right this way.” Min’s officedoor was closed as they passed by, which was just as well. Minobviously wouldn’t have approved of Kate traipsing around theoffice in such an unbecoming outfit. Sharon knew Kate had betterclothes in her closet because she’d picked them out herself, buther daughter never wore nice outfits. Kate seemed to want the worldto think she was a bum. “Here it is,”Sharon said escorting her daughter into the office. “What do youthink?” “It’s tiny,”Kate said. “Why are there papers all over the floor?” “That’s myfiling system.” “Why don’t youuse the filing cabinets?” “I do. They’refull.” “Doesn’t yourboss get mad that your office is such a mess?” Sharon thoughtback to all the times Min had howled at her for keeping such anunkempt workspace. In fact, she’d been moved into an office fromher cubicle so Min could close the disaster zone behind a door whenclients were around. Kate shook herhead. “And you used to scream at me because my bedroom was amess.” “I didn’tscream,” Sharon countered. “And your bedroom wasn’t just messy—youwere growing mushrooms in there.” “Mushrooms area sustainable food source,” Kate said with a guarded smirk.“Everyone should grow mushrooms in their bedroom.” Sharon smirkedtoo. “Whatever you say. You want a cranberry juice? Or a can ofpop?” “Isn’t thatstuff for clients? Min’ll probably beat you if she catches usstealing juice.” “Okay,” Sharonsaid. “Well, the copy place closes at five. You’d better get yourbutt down there. Sure you don’t want me to come?” Kate waved ahand in her mother’s direction. “Oh, I’m not going there.” “Where are yougoing?” Kate shrugged.“Nowhere.” Sharon cockedher head in confusion. “Do I have toexplain this?” Kate asked. “Obviously.” The girlgrowled and then closed Sharon’s office door, tossing her knapsackon the floor. “You’ve got a perfectly good colour copy machineright here. Why would I go anywhere else?” “Because Minsaid you couldn’t use the copier. Were you not listening?” “Sure I waslistening. I just don’t care.” “You don’tcare that your mother could lose her job because you refuse tofollow the rules?” Kate heavedherself against the closed door. “Gimme a break, Mom! You’re notgonna get fired for making a few photocopies.” “Oh, you thinkso? Well, I’ll tell you why that rule is in place.” “I don’tcare!” “You may notcare, but you’re going to listen.” Kate coveredher eyes with both hands and growled. “Because twoformer employees here started moonlighting.” “Whatever thatis…” “Moonlighting:working a second job. You’ve never heard that term?” “No. When isit from, the 1800s?” “Well,there was a TV show called Moonlighting in the 80s.” “Exactly.” “The 80s werenot the 1800s.” “If it’sbefore I was born, it’s all the same to me.” “You’regetting me off-track,” Sharon said. “Listen: these two employeeswere using company resources, including the photocopier, to build avery successful small business after hours. When Phil from IT foundout about their little scheme, Min fired those two on thespot.” “But the sidebusiness was successful?” Kate asked. “Yes, very.One was a graphic designer, the other was in sales. They built upquite a host of clients looking for design work.” “So when theygot fired from here, couldn’t they do their side businessfull-time?” “Yes, Ibelieve that’s exactly what they did.” “Well then sowhat? It all worked out in the end.” “For them,”Sharon said. “Not for Min.” “But I thoughtyou didn’t like Min.” “I don’tparticularly.” “So why do youcare if people screw her business over?” That onestopped Sharon in her tracks. She hated to agree with her daughter,but Kate had a point, there. So she changed gears: “Anyway, Min’sclient gave you sixty dollars for copies.” “Yeah, but ifI use your copier for free, I can spend that sixty bucks on… otherthings.” Sharon sighed.“Katie, honey, I sincerely hope you don’t plan to spend Gwilym’smoney on illegal substances.” Kate scoffed.“Who, me? I never!” “Mmm-hmm…” “Hey, wait,what’s that guy’s name?” “Gwilym.” “Gwilym?” Katecackled. “Oh my God, that’s awesome.” “It’s Welsh, Ibelieve.” “It’s weird. Ilove it. I want to change my name to Gwilym.” “It’s a man’sname.” “Then I’ll beGwilyma. How’s that?” Sharoncouldn’t help but laugh. Irritating as her daughter could be attimes, Kate was a truly funny kid. If only they could have moremoments of mirth and fewer headaches maybe it would be possible torebuild the fun-loving relationship they’d enjoyed when Kate wasyounger. Before the divorce. Before Nora. “If you reallywant to use the copier, we’ll have to wait until afterhours.” Kate made aface. “What am I supposed to do until then?” “Yourhomework, perhaps?” Kate stuck afinger down her throat and faux-gagged. “Your fathersent me a copy of your latest report card, Kate. There’s room forimprovement, to say the least.” “School isstupid. As soon as I turn eighteen I’m dropping out.” A burst ofanger shot through Sharon’s body as she recalled the time and moneyspent on tutors and enrichment classes when Kate was younger. “Youmost certainly will not be dropping out of high school, young lady.You will work your butt off to get into a good university, and youwill earn a degree just like we planned.” Kate shruggednonchalantly. “Dad says I don’t have to.” “There is noway your father’s going to let you drop out of high school.” Another shrug.“When I’m eighteen it won’t matter what you and dad say. I’ll livewith Grandpa. He dropped out of Grade Eight.” “Times weredifferent back then.” “Times aredifferent now. You can get a PhD and still end up working at acoffee house. What’s the point of spending all that money on auseless piece of paper? Anyway, I’m in a band.” “What’s thatgot to do with anything?” “I’m gonna bea musician. I don’t need school for that.” Sharoncollapsed in her swivel chair. “God help me!” “See? This iswhy I never talk to you. You don’t support my dreams.” “That’sbecause your dreams are idiotic!” Kate’s jawdropped. Sharon could practically feel her daughter’s teethclenching. “Not idiotic,”Sharon self-corrected. “That’s the wrong word. I should have saidyour dreams are… unlikely. Pie in the sky.” “Oh okay,”Kate snapped. “I’ll just get a degree in music appreciation, thenpump out a kid and be someone’s secretary for the next fortyyears.” A typical Katepot-shot at her mother, but it hurt Sharon to the core. “I’m notMin’s secretary.” Kate raised abrow, glancing around at the stacks of paperwork piled on thefloor. “Could have fooled me.”